Jake's Wake

Every page of this novel is pure gold! The authors don't skimp on action, gore or violence. Jake is an egomaniacal and hypocritical TV preacher who predicts his own resurrection, and how 'bout that? He was right! The reader doesn't have to work to "see" the scenes Skipp and Goodfellow set before her. Their writing is colorful and smooth, with good character development and even better action sequences. JAKE'S WAKE is absolutely a star-quality horror novel. The ending was nothing like I expected, but I wasn't disappointed. Skipp and Goodfellow have wild imaginations, and you'll want more. Their gruesome minds are deliciously debauched. They had to enjoy writing this one.

Great Book! If you like Horror and Humor with Strong Characters, you have to read this book. I couldn't put it down.

In "Jake's Wake", Splatterpunk veteran John Skipp and newcomer Cody Goodfellow team up to paint a bloody vista that will remain entrenched in the reader's imagination long after the last page. An effortless collaboration, the narrative is seamless, unified. There's no guessing where Skipp ends and Goodfellow begins. They meld their differing styles smoothly to fashion a story that hits the ground running and never lets up, not until its surprisingly spiritual last page. Pastor Jake always promised his congregation he'd rise from the dead. A two-bit con man, former rocker-turned cable television evangelist, Jake's always been able to influence those around him. He has a nose for scams, wields an uncanny ability to bend weak wills to his own, and has left piles of broken lives - and bodies - in his wake. But now he's dead, run through the guts by a vengeful boyfriend, sent to the "other side" far sooner than he'd ever expected. That's okay, though...because Jake's back. Maybe he never quite believed his own dogma; maybe he did. As a resurrected Jake climbs from his coffin during his wake, he realizes it doesn't matter, because he's back baby; back from the dead. It's time to usher in a new world, bathed in a baptism only Jake can deliver: one of never-ending blood. Tonight, Jake's going to collect his true believers and cut the fat from the meat - literally. Skipp and Goodfellow land punch after visceral punch to the reader's mind and heart. There's more to this tale than torn bodies and spilled guts, however - though there's plenty of that, too. Couched in fun, bloody violence, terror and suspense are gripping questions about faith and fanaticism. What is true faith, and when does it cross the line? What separates a man of God and someone who believes he is god? And, when someone comes back...what do they bring with them? These are questions everyone can ponder, and along the way they can also pray to God their favorite televangelist doesn't die and come back looking for true believers.

So enjoyed the kinetic energy, pace, and dialogue of this book. Make this into a movie already!

This book represents Skipp's best work since THE BRIDGE(1991). Cody Goodfellow really blew me away with RADIANT DAWN(2000),and I am so glad to see Skipp and Goodfellow working together. I would love to write about this book at length, but giving away the central thesis, in this case, gives away the finale. This is just one of those books that has to be read (to the end) to be FULLY appreciated. If you love horror with a bite and a brain, you need to read this book. If you are reading this review and have not read the novel, consider yourself lucky...you still have the discovery of JAKE'S WAKE ahead of you. I cannot wait to see what John Skipp and Cody Goodfellow bring us next. I am sure that it will also be something special.